.png)
Seattle's iconic Uniting Souls Music delivers a new Spring compilation, featuring nine new tracks by a solid roster of West Coast talent + a couple of NOLA veteran DJ/producers.
While the label is internationally regarded as a "house music institution," compilations like Equinox Dreams allow it to expand and explore other genres. The release is closed out by a dreamy, dubby, bass-heavy track, Nocturnal, co-produced by a talented duo with Hawaii roots - Wolfess (aka Meghan Barrett) and Cryptochronica (aka Chris Michaels). The vibe is perfect for festival season!
We got a chance to ask them a few questions.
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from/how did you get into music?
Wolfess: I hail from a lineage deeply rooted in the realm of professional musicians and music educators, tracing back through generations to the ancient Celts and gypsies of my ancestry. Both of my parents are esteemed members of the Hawaii Symphony and have dedicated their careers to music education, imparting their knowledge to students ranging from children to university-level and adult learners.
Their influence on me has been profound, as evidenced by my lifelong journey of musical exploration. From picking up the violin at the age of 3 to mastering various instruments such as singing, flute, bass guitar, drums, guitar, DJing, piano, Ableton, and most recently, the harp, my path has been one of continuous learning and discovery.
Raised in Hawaii and attending a competitive performing arts-focused school, my teenage years saw me excelling in jazz band, fueled by aspirations of becoming a professional jazz bassist. However, my trajectory veered in a different direction, leading me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Relocating to the Denver area for veterinary school at the age of 20 exposed me to the vibrant EDM scene, sparking a decade-long love affair with the genre and inspiring me to delve into the art of DJing. This eventually led me to explore music production, and with the mentorship of Cryptochronica (Chris Michaels), I released several house music singles under the moniker "Wolfess".
While performing at wild parties was once my passion, as I entered my 30's, I embraced a slower pace of life more focused around a healthy lifestyle and growing my medical practice. For the past few years I've been immersed in learning traditional Irish music through learning the harp and revisiting the flute, albeit in a different musical context from my classical training. Thus, my musical journey continues to evolve, weaving together elements of my heritage and newfound inspirations.
Cryptochronica: I’m originally from Hawai’i but am now based in Portland. I love the islands and HI will always be where my roots are, but it’s challenging to be a full-time bass producer there since the scene is small - beautiful, supportive, but ultimately small- and therefore it’s hard to make a living doing production full time. I’m from a musical family and grew up playing guitar, mostly indie rock and alternative, but after my first EDM festival, I was like, “Ho shit, I gotta get into this!” I taught myself production to the best of my abilities (back when there were only a few tutorials online - now there are whole degrees out there one can get for free) and when I got stuck I pulled the trigger on joining a production school - The Producer Dojo. After doing that program for a year, I was invited to teach for it, and have been teaching both in the Dojo and in my own private practice ever since.
Uniting Souls is known internationally for house music. Can you tell us about how your track "Nocturnal" came to be released on their label? It's a nice addition to their Equinox Dreams compilation.
Wolfess: I was a member of a fire dancing ensemble called Kalalea Hawaii, and we had the honor of being chosen to perform at Envision Festival in Costa Rica in 2023. I sought to create an original song for the showcase video of our festival performances. Inspired by Clozee, one of the festival's headliners and a personal favorite artist of mine, I decided to delve into the downtempo bass genre. Knowing that Cyptochronica would be the ideal collaborator, I reached out to him, and we developed the track "Nocturnal" together. He has been my mentor and guide in music production since I first started, and it is a privilege to release this track with him! My introduction to Uniting Souls came through my friend Jordan Strong, who also contributed a track to the EP. With his assistance, we were able to connect with the Uniting Souls community, and we are deeply grateful for their warm welcome and support.
Cryptochronica: Nocturnal was a collaboration with my friend Wolfess (Meghan Barrett) and she has been a fixture in the Hawai’i house scene for a long time. Her interests go beyond just house however, so when she approached me about making an original downtempo/bass tune for the Hawaii Fire Tribe to perform at Envision Festival in Costa Rica, I was excited to get into it. Once we finished Nocturnal, she recommended that we pitch it to Uniting Souls as she had already established a rapport with that community.
What influences you to make music, and how do you think it impacts your listeners?
Wolfess: Music holds immense significance in my life, acting as a vital source of energy, vitality, and emotional resonance. It consistently serves as the soundtrack to my experiences, transforming life's stories into melodies that deeply resonate within me. Regular exposure to music isn't just a preference but a necessity, as it allows me to navigate life's complexities and find beauty in its intricacies. When crafting original compositions, my goal is to capture the essence of my inspiration and invite listeners on a journey of their own. I hope that the songs I create become woven into the fabric of their lives, fostering a meaningful connection similar to the ones I cherish with my favorite tracks.
Cryptochronica: Music is my raison d’etre. Ultimately, everything influences me to make it, my rage, my joy, my frustrations, and my pleasures. When the world is going great, I relax by making a song - or even just a sound, beat, or idea - since it’s fun and the creativity itself is meditative. And when the world is completely fucked, I turn to music as an outlet, to channel my energies to something productive and constructive. Ultimately, in a sick, destructive, consumerist society, I believe it’s an act of profound resistance to do something creative, however small. So that’s what I do. Music is also just so fun, and life’s too short to miss out on fun! I think my listeners sense that when I play shows or release tracks. I hope they do.
How do you see your sound evolving? What artists and genres do you like to mix at the moment?
Wolfess: My musical style is a constantly evolving journey, yet there's a distinct thread that ties it all together. I'm drawn to music that exudes a sense of empowerment, compelling listeners to let loose and lose themselves in the groove. Lately, I've been delving deeper into breakbeats and garage, inspired by my experience at Rise Festival in France last winter. When I mix, I love to slowly transition from the steady pulse of bass and tech house into the edgy appeal of urban breakbeats. Lately, I've found inspiration from artists such as Fabian Mazur, DLMT, and Kyle Watson. My creative process is marked by spontaneous bursts of inspiration, guiding me in unexpected directions. Instead of resisting, I embrace these impulses, allowing them to shape my music in exciting and unpredictable ways.
Cryptochronica: I see my sound evolving in a multitude of ways. I'm really into "Deconstructed Bass" music, like G Jones, EPROM, or Chee are making. Imanu is a good example too. Essentially in this style of music you first make a song, then you stem it out into it's individual parts and re -import them into a new project. Then, using the parts of the song as material, you manipulate and edit those to create something wholly new and unexpected. So I see my sound evolving as I get better at these techniques. Working this way is super cool because for each song you finish, you end up making like 5 or more ideas from the original parts that could each be a song in their own right, and then you put them together into the full composition.
What projects are you working on right now? Can you tell us about your latest work and future projects?
Wolfess: Presently, I'm delving deeper into the realm of experimental ambient music, focusing on compositions aimed at soothing the nervous system. I incorporate a blend of sound healing instruments such as singing bowls, harp, and flutes, along with digital synths. My intention is to craft music that's psychoacoustically tailored to benefit animals, aiding in the treatment of anxiety and behavioral issues within my veterinary practice. While I intend to persist in producing bass and house music, my current passion lies in this particular endeavor!
Cryptochronica: I'm working on so much right now. Besides teaching, mixing and mastering, and consulting for clients full time, I have 2 finished EPs in the pipeline that are waiting on label acceptance. I also have at least 5 singles I finished last year that need to make their way out into the world. I've been playing shows on both coasts of the US and have some festivals I have to prepare for this summer. What I'm most excited about at the moment is my new performance template, where I play the tracks through Ableton Live as opposed to DJ-ing them. Setting that up was a whole two weeks of work, but the results are amazing - I'm able to improvise songs, re-arrange structures, perform custom edits and fx, and execute transitions that are super cool and rewarding. So yeah, I mostly just want to keep putting out tunes and refining my craft, both for the fun of it and also to bring the best experience possible to my fans and listeners.
Links:
Comments